New global down standard launches - Downlite first certified company
17/03/2016
For 18 months, public health organisation NSF Sustainability has been working on a new certification called the Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS). On March 16, it announced Downlite as the first Global TDS-certified company, indicating that the down Downlite processes is from farms that practise “the highest levels of animal welfare” and that the down is fully traceable throughout the supply chain.
Downlite’s vice-president for sales and business development, Chad Altbaier, said at the time of the announcement that his company is “very proud of this recognition”, but said it had come as the result of “years of hard work”.
Mr Altbaier said initial work on a traceable down standard had been with outdoor brand Patagonia and had begun four years ago. He pointed out that although Patagonia had begun working with another auditing company to validate its supply chain, it was working to the same standards as those on which Global TDS is based. “Downlite worked very closely with Patagonia in the development of those standards,” he added.
He went on to say that discussions have taken place already on the possibility of harmonising Global TDS and the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). RDS, largely developed by The North Face, who handed the initiative over to non-profit organisation Textile Exchange, is already quite widespread in the outdoor industry. Chad Altbaier pointed out that Downlite also supplies RDS down and said: “We see tremendous value and positive supply chain influence from both of these incredible animal welfare standards and certifications.”
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